New Grady County DA Has His Work Cut Out For Him

Ed Murray, News 9

CHICKASHA, Oklahoma -- The New Year will bring a new district attorney to Grady, Stephens, Jefferson, and Caddo counties.

Jason Hicks will be sworn into office on Monday morning. He defeated current District Attorney Bret Burns in November's election and Hicks will find his new desk stacked with fresh paperwork.

Just this week, in Burns' final days in office he filed charges in at least 4 cases.

Two of them date back to April.

One of the two investigations that began in the spring involves Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Stan McConnell. He's charged with concealing stolen property on his land in Chickasha.

The electric wires and other items were allegedly stolen by his daughter and her husband following the January ice storm.

And charges this week against a Blanchard woman regarding the death of a 7 month old boy in April, which originally was considered an accident.

The court affidavit states Kasey Duverney is now charged with child neglect or second degree manslaughter.

The investigator stating she failed to provide proper care and supervision by placing the boy in a bed not safe for an infant.

And another case in the stack out of Grady County accuses Dennis and Laura Meyer of voting twice in a Tuttle election.

The city of Tuttle asked voters to decide two propositions for a new library, both measures lost by around 100 votes each.

Court records state the Meyers showed up at their regular voting place, the Methodist Church on December 14, 2010 and voted. But they're accused of also voting by absentee on November 9, 2010.

The felony carries a punishment of not more than 2 years in jail, up to a $5,000 fine, or both.

No one involved in the Meyers case wanted to comment to News 9.

News 9 reporter Rusty Surrette talked to Burns on Thursday about the McConnell case, but he told us it was his last day in office and he didn't want to comment on camera.

And Hicks told me he doesn't yet have access to the investigative material, but did give me a statement concerning all these last minute filings.

Jason Hicks Statement:

"Generally speaking, I would have preferred (the filing of charges) to be left until I was sworn in. It appears there's not a rush since several of these investigations have been sitting around for months. Again, I would have preferred a delay on the charges until at least next week."

Hicks says he'll welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters further once he has more details.